DENVER — Darryl Glenn, one of five candidates vying for the Colorado Republican Senate nomination, received a huge boost Friday with an endorsement from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Mr. Glenn, an El Paso County commissioner, won his slot on the primary ballot by capturing 70 percent of the delegate vote in April after a rousing speech at the Colorado Republican State Convention.
The Air Force veteran was the only Republican Senate candidate to reach the ballot via the convention, which is typically a sign of strong support from the GOP base. The other four candidates petitioned their way onto the June 28 ballot.
“Darryl is a father, small businessman, and a public servant,” Mr. Cruz said in a statement. “A retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Darryl knows the value of freedom, and will take the fight to Washington for policies that bring back economic growth and preserve our individual liberties.”
The winner of the five-way GOP primary race will face Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat, widely viewed as this year’s most vulnerable Senate Democratic incumbent.
“Colorado is a critical battleground state in 2016, and you can be sure Democrats will pour in unlimited resources to defend the incumbent,” Mr. Cruz said. “That’s why I’m supporting a conservative fighter like Darryl Glenn to take them on.”
The other four top Republican candidates are businessman Robert Blaha, former Colorado State University athletic director Jack Graham, former Aurora city Councilman Ryan Frazier and former state Rep. Jon Keyser.
Mr. Cruz, who’s slated to speak next month at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, also said he would campaign on Mr. Glenn’s behalf.
The Glenn campaign said in a statement that the candidate was “deeply honored” by Mr. Cruz’s support.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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